Alexus Killswat > Recent Status Updates

living creature, rendering the world

"The sun was bright, the sky a pale blue, the air warm and soft on my skin, and the world seemed to be holding its breath." This quote uses personification. It adds to the story by highlighting Eleanor’s rare moment of peace and emotional calm, showing that she's experiencing a significant shift in her internal state, moving away from her previously isolating routine.

Eleanor faces the aftermath of her confrontation with Raymond. She begins to open up emotionally, revealing her troubled past and realizing the importance of human connection. Eleanor’s perception of herself and others begins to shift as she experiences moments of kindness, both from Raymond and the people around her. This chapter marks a turning point in her journey toward healing and self-acceptance.

Eleanor stands in a fragile light,
Her heart was bruised, yet holding tight.
In silence, she battles the scars of the past,
Seeking a love and peace that will last.

lurid, pristine, petite, tidy, immaculate. In this scene, Eleanor is describing the condition of Raymond's home. How she describes it, you can tell that an older couple lives there. The house is tidy and antique and smells like a grandma's cooking. We probably wouldn't get the impression of an old couple if she used other words.

Raymond and Eleanor finally get around to going on a date, but Eleanor's first impression of him is not the greatest. She sees he doesn't have a car or own any nice clothes, just athleisure wear. He's a gentleman yes, but Eleanor tries hard to see past his assets and more for his personality

I hope something blooms between Eleanor and Raymond, as they are opposites and Eleanor claims to dislike him strongly. I think their banter is so funny and I love how quick-witted Eleanor is.

If Eleanor were a food, she would be a simple layered cake, someone who seems plain and boring on the outside, but full of layers and depth of surprises on the inside. I feel like a layered cake would most describe Eleanor's unique persona.

The poem that Eleanor would most relate to is "When People Ask Me How I'm Doing" by Rudy Francisco since Eleanor hates opening up to anyone, let alone her therapist. She isn't uncomfortable talking about her feelings, regardless of her true feelings. She tries to keep to herself.

Eclectic means a diverse range of sources. In the book, it is used when Eleanor goes to the hospital gift shop: "There was a shop on the ground floor selling an eclectic arrangement of goods." This reminds me of holiday or souvenir shops on vacation because of the energy those shops bring.

A lesson I learned is not to judge a book by its cover because on the outside Eleanor is socially awkward and rigid, but her past trauma has created her current personality. Eleanor has gone through a lot and while she is trying to move past her trauma, she is also trying to work on the way she is perceieved.

Eleanor would not believe in the American Dream because she could care less about success. She likes to live a straightforward life and while she has a job, she doesn't look at the numbers she makes. She also doesn't have very, may friends or family so she cares about getting through the day-to-day.

Eleanor has siblings who grew distant and don't come around as much. Eleanor sees her mother every week, so I assume they spend holidays together, too. There is also Raymond, the IT guy who won't leave Eleanor alone and she isn't too fond of, but I can see them spending Christmas together. A tradition I think would take place would be a crafty one. Eleanor's mother loves to knit, so something with that.

Eleanor is an extrovert and isn't afraid to speak her mind. Despite being an extrovert and talking to so many new people, she struggles to fit in. Eleanor constantly feels like she doesn't belong and cliques are her worst nightmare. She believed that cliques end once you leave high school, but she never expected them to follow your workplace. Overall, Eleanor is an extrovert trying to figure out who she is.

Eleanor meets Raymond, the new IT guy for her firm. She is not fond of him and would rather struggle with her issues than contact him again. Raymond on the other hand is obsessed wth Eleanor and would make any excuse to see her.

Eleanor is a socially awkward person and says mainly whatever is on her mind. As a woman in a corporate job, she gets a lot of questions and people always wonder how she does it. Her go to answer is always "It's not how, it's why I do it," as she explains the thrill her job gives her. Outside of work, her life is far from social. Nights spent on the couch until sleep comes. I think the theme so far is loneliness.

Torrey finally started her YouTube channel again. She realized that there is more to life than the satisfaction of others. Torrey surrounds herself with the people she loves and Carlie would have loved. She was able to help her mom get into rehab and take care of the family. She graduates high school and attends USC to major in journalism.

Torrey begins a new relationship with Luis. She is finally in a good place with her parents, starting to become whole again. Blair is no longer on her back; she's content with her friends. The only problem is her fans and her YouTube channel. Torrey is unable to balance the morale of her fans and herself. She is at a crossroads as she tries to strike the right work-life balance.

While mourning her sister, Torrey also competes with Blair, who scarily resembles her sister, Carlie. She can't help but think of her sister in every interaction, argument, and activity that both Torrey and Blair are involved in. I think all the memories of Carlie flood through Torrey's head every time she encounters Blair—every small thing they argued over, every time Carlie would tease her, and so on.

Torrey finally musters up the courage to visit her sister's grave. For this scene, the main backdrop would be the cemetry, lined with many headstones in a very grassy area. It's beginning to get colder in Texas, so it would be windy and slightly grey skies. Torrey is accompanied by Luis at the cemetry, someone who understands death as much as she does. Luis is very sympathetic towards Torrey while she is in mourning.

Torrey's parents, who are worried for her, send her to see a shrink. In the room with her therapist, she is very fidgety, unable to stay still, and her words come out breathless. Torrey had enough of her therapist, degrading and undermining her before storming out. If it were a play, I would have Torrey isolate herself, despite not being alone. She would be very anxious and uneasy, unable to look anyone in the eye.

Torrey's YouTube account has been discovered & the truth about her sister gets out. While she managed to keep her social media life private by taking a break, she is only haunted by her biggest fear. I think this scene is a good example of what a digital footprint is. It teaches the importance of thinking twice before posting on social media. She didn't necessarily post anything bad, but she hates that it haunts her.

"I owe an explanation to my followers. I have been inactive for the past few months. My days are crammed and I have little to no time for myself. I set up my camera and see my pale, ghost-like reflection on the monitor. My eyes are heavy, my hair is messy, and my necklaces are tangled. I press record and begin, 'I'm here to talk about my sister, Miranda...' and suddenly my hands become very interesting. I can't."

Torrey is sent a threat via postcard. She has an idea of who it might be, Luis. They had made a deal to do it over a workout to get the very fit and athletic Luis to talk. I imagine her in running shorts, a light t-shirt, or maybe even a tank because of the blazing hot weather in Texas. Anything athleisure wear is needed for both of them.

Torrey is struggling with the grief of her sister. She can't help but show it on her face but hates if someone were to offer their pity. Torrey is always tense and on the edge of her seat as she shuts out her friends and family. The tone in her voice is harsh and cold, she says so much without ever really saying anything. It's different on her social media platforms since she has to put on a brave face and be happy.

I would have two different sets because, in the book, Torrey struggles with a school-life balance in her new town. At home, I would describe the set as gloomy and empty, with not a lot of energy, and also not a lot of furniture as they are moving. Torrey's home is seen as a symbol of grief and mourning. For the school, it would have more colors and is more filled as Torrey sees it as her escape from her struggles.

The first chapter's theme contrasts the public and private self. Torrey is a YouTube with over 300k subscribers. While she may portray this well-put life on screen, her life off-camera is filled with struggles and insecurity. Torrey had recently lost her sister, and her family decided to move to Texas. Mourning the loss of her sister and adapting to her new life, she struggles to keep her subscribers happy as well.

Ellen Pompeo and Julia Roberts are the two actresses that come to mind to be cast for this book. Pompeo would play Kayla, who is constantly being thrown under the bus by her mother and also deals with anxiety and depression. I say Ellen because her character on Grey's Anatomy is very similar. Roberts would play Kayla's Aunt, Jillian. Jillian is the "hero" who saves Kayla from losing herself.

Kayla is gifted a journal by her therapist, who encourages her to write whenever he is not available. Kayla likes the idea of the journal, but she can't bring it upon herself to write in it. I think she is avoiding it because she has to talk about her new life in Canada. She has been avoiding the truth of why she is in Edmonton, Canada. The journal acts as a negative reminder to Kayla.